Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-04-08
Progress of Prohibition.

Some of our friends, displeased with the
St. John canvass, declare that the cause
has been set back twenty years. Since this
augury of evil only two years have passed
away. In that time the progress of prohi-
bition sentiment has exceeded all the years
that went before. This winters work will
far exceed the most sanguine expectations
Of the most enthusiastic friends of the
cause.
The question has assumed such import
ance as to command the most earnest at
tention Of the entire country. Politicians
have tried in vain to ignore it. The con.
ciated press has been broken. Like Ban
quo's ghost, it rises everywhere and at all
times to disturb the quiet conscience of the
old political parties. North, East. South
and West the one problem is what shall we
do with this troublesome matter. Every
Legislature in session this winter has been
compelled to wrestle with the difficult
question.
There are some interesting problems con-
nected with legislation so far attained or in
prospect. Every concession in either Sec
ton of the country has been reluctantly
made. Both parties have resisted every
advance, and nothing but the stern neces-
sity OF the case had induced q single con-
cession.
Even high license, because of it's sup
posed restrictive influence, has been re-
luctantly pushed to the front. This in
tended compromise in the interest of con-
tinued party supremacy is, perhaps, of all
vocates hoped to stay the tide of temper
ance fanaticism. Unfortunately for them
it satisfies no one. The Democrats of Mis-
souri, and the Republicans of Nebraska
vainly hoped that this measure would con-
tent both sides, but the struggle in both
States this winter is more determined han
ever. Other concessions must be made, or
the dominant party in both these States
must exchange places with the minority,
possibly at the next election.
In Minnesota, New York and Pennsvl-
vania, the high-license compromise, So
called, is likely to hand these States over
permanently to the Democrats, because of
the determined opposition OF the whisky
power. But there is nothing else to be
done. The Republicans must take this
dodge Or give submission, and that is GER
tain death.
Those States which nave passed beyond
this phase of the controversy are wrestling
with local option, the last but one of the
steps in this great progression. Kentucky
is moving grandly upon this line, because
she cannot move upon any other. Her con
stitution, like the laws of the Medes and
Persians, is forever Interchangeable. In
Missouri even the brewers are earnest ad-
%vocates of this method, simply because, if
not this, then something worse to them;
local option is bad enough but constitu-
tional amendment is worse.
In the States which have tried local OPP
ton general dissatis acton exists and the
cry IS onward to constitutional prohibition.
In the new contest Tennessee leads the van
and Texas follows close in line, while
Arkansas and Mississippi are marshaling
their forces for the contest in 1858. Thus
everything is onward to II common end.
The %obstinacy of the enemy ard indiscre-
ton and treachery of friends may retard
the movement at each successive step, but
the end is inevitable.